Locking device



;2 0 .access to the interior of the vehicle,feven though the exactfeatures shown as various changes20 25 for pivoted window panels may beopened sufiiautomobile window of the no-draft ventilator 25 teriorof thevehicle by an unauthorized person. Figure 4 is a side View of thelocking device t35 An object of the present invention, therefore,removed from the panel. o v35 is to provide a simple and inexpensivelocking In the selected` embodiment of the invention Patented Aug. s,1939 :i 2,168,677

UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE Y' g n 2,168,677

LOCKING DEVICE George E. McKeen, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application November 20, 1936, Serial No. 111,880

1 Claim. (Cl. 292-145) `This invention relates to new and usefulimfitting it over an edge portion of the glazed provements in lockingdevices, and more particupanel, whereby when the panel is in closedposilarly to such a device adapted for use in contion, it isimpossibleto remove the locking device nection with the well-known type ofvno-draft rfrom the panel from the exterior of the vehicle;

5 ventilators now used in commercial automotive and, in the constructionof such a device which 5 vehicles. Y may be manufactured in quantityproduction at Numerous automotive vehicles are now prosmall cost andwhich, when attached to a pivvided with Windows comprising a smallsection oted panel, such as the no-draft ventilator of an or panelmounted for pivotal movement about a automobile, provides means wherebythe panel l vertical axis, whereby it may be swung to an may bepositively locked against opening by an 10 open position to permit aircirculation withinthe unauthorized person. :vehicle body withoutobjectionable drafts. Other objects of the invention willv appear Thesepivoted sections or panels are usually profrom the following descriptionand accompanyivided with a suitable operator comprising a ing drawingand will be pointed out in the 1.3 crank. conveniently mounted withinthe Vehicle, annexed claim. J and whereby the pivoted panel may beopened In the accompanying drawing there has been or closed to controlventilation. Unless these disclosed a structure designed to carry outtheApanels are "securely locked against movement 'various objects of theinvention, but itis to be .when closed, an unauthorized person may vgainunderstood that the invention'isnot confined to the doo-rs and windowsof the Vehicle may be may be made within the scope of the claim whichAlocked. II'he inherent construction of the follows. Y operating meansof the so-called no-draft venti- In the drawing: f

lators, is such that frequently these ventilators, Figure 1 is a viewshowing a portionv of an ciently, when locked, to permit the insertiontype, with the invention applied thereto; of' a small instrument, suchas a piece of Wire, Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional plan View onbetween the partially opened ventilator or panel the line 2 2 of Figurel, showing the device in and its supporting means, and unlatch the doorlocking position;

with said wire. It is therefore desirable that Figure 3 is a detailsectional View on the line 30 means be provided whereby the pivotedpanel or 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the sharpened termi- ;ventilator maybe securely locked against its nals of the device inserted between theglazed seat, so that it cannot be opened from the expanel and itssupporting frame; and l devicev which mayv readily be attached tothehere shown, there is illustrated in l"igure.l,.forv glazed panel orventilator, and is provided with purposesfof disclosure, a portion of-an` Iautomeans for engaging a xed support to lock the mobile door 2having a window section 3 of panel against relative movement, when inclosed ordinary construction mounted therein, and 40 position, andwhereby the panel cannot be comprising a so-called rio-draft ventilator4 of opened from the exterior of the Vehicle. the well-known type nowcommonly used on an A further object is to provide such a deviceautomotive vehicle. The panel or ventilator 4 formed of sheet metal andcomprising a member is mounted for pivotal movement about suitablehavinga guide therein adapted to receive asuitapivots 5 and 6. Thewindow section 3 has a 45 ble slide provided at one end with an offsetporframe 1 at one side provided with a seat 8, tion adapted to engage afixed support, thereby against which the adjacent edge of the panel 4 tosecure the panel in closed position, and wheremay be seated, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 2. by it cannot be opened by an unauthorized per-The type of panel shown in Figure 1 is, as hereson from the exterior ofthe vehicle. inbefore stated, commonly known as a no-draft 50 Otherobjects of the invention reside in the ventilator, and permits freeventilation of the simple and inexpensive construction of the deinteriorof the vehicle body without objectionable vice which is such that it mayreadily be atdrafts. tached to the glazed panel without the use of Animportant feature of the present invention screws or bolts; in theparticular manner of resides in the novel means provided for locking 55the panel 4 in its closed position, from the interior of the vehicle,and whereby it cannot be opened from the exterior thereof. To thus lockthe panel 4 in closed position, a simple locking device, generallyindicated by the numeral 9 is fitted onto the lower corner of the panel4, as best shown in Figure 1.

The locking device comprises a member or wall portion I I adapted to beseated against the panel 4, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. An offsetportion l2 is provided at one end of the wall portion II, and is spacedtherefrom a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the panel4, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The member or wall portion II isprovided at its upper and lower edges with inturned flanges I3 and I4spaced from the wall II to provide longitudinally extending grooves orguides adapted to receive the opposite edges of a slide, generallyindicated by the numeral I5. This slide is provided at one end with anoff-set portion I6 adapted to be moved into engagement with the fixedframe l of the lwindow section 3, as best shown in Figure 2.

To prevent the locking device from relatively moving on the panel 4,downwardly projecting sharpened terminals I 8 and I'I are formed on themember II and off-set portion I2, respectively. These terminals areadapted to be inserted between the panel 4 and its supporting frame I9,as best illustrated in Figure 3. The frame I9 is usually of metal, andcomprises a suitable flexible channel member 2l in which the edge of thepanel 4 is seated, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

By securing the locking device to the panel 4, as .hereinbefore stated,it will readily be seen that when the panel 4 is in closed position, asshown in Figure 2, the locking device cannot be pried loose or separatedfrom the panel, because of the right angled portion 22 being seatedbetween the adjacent edge of the panel 4 and the frame member 1. It willalso be seen that when thus supported, the locking device cannot beunlocked from the exterior of the vehicle.

To operate the locking device to secure the ventilator or panel 4against opening, the slide I5 is moved from the dotted to the full lineposition shown in Figure 2, whereby the offset portion I6 of the slide Iwill engage the fixed frame 'I and thereby firmly secure the panel v4against its seat 8. To unlock the panel, the slide I5 is moved to theright, when viewed as shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereby the offsetportion I6 will move out of engagement with the xed frame T, therebypermitting the panel 4 to swing outwardly, as will readily be understoodby reference to Figures 1 and 2.

This novel locking device has been found very practical in actual use.Because of its simple and inexpensive construction, it may bemanufactured in quantity production at small cost, and may readily beapplied to conventional no-draft ventilator windows, as hereindisclosed, without the use of special tools, or requiring the drillingof holes for screws or other fastening means to secure it in positionupon the panel 4. A suitable stop 23 is shown provided at one end of theslide I5 adapted toengage the end 24 of the flange I4, thereby to limitmovement of the slide in one direction. Movement thereof in the oppositedirection is limited as a result of the off-set portion I6 of the slideengaging the adjacent ends of the inturned flanges I3 and I4, as will bereadily understood by reference to Figures 2 and 3.

Conventional no-draft ventilators or windows of the type usedon manyautomotive vehicles, frequently become more or less loose in theirsupporting means, whereby it may become diilicult to keep them tight forwinter driving. This difoulty may be quickly remedied by the applicationof the simple locking device, herein disclosed, as it may readily beattached to the pivoted panel 4, and is very convenient to operate. Thedevice therefore, in addition to providing a safety lock, may also serveto keep the ventilator section or panel 4 tight, in cold weather, andalso to prevent it from rattling, when relatively loose in its bearings.

I claim as my invention:

A latch for use with an automobile no-draft window including two glazedpanels, one of which is mounted for relative pivotal movement withrespect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, said latchcomprising a relatively narrow ,and longitudinally elongated bodyportion formed of sheet metal and having the longitudinal edge portionsdeflected to define a guideway, and an end portion deflected to define ahook-shaped portion adapted to engage about an upright edge of thepivoted window panel, said body portion being provided withlongitudinally spaced and laterally offset depending barbed prongsadapted to be inserted between the glazed panel and a supporting channelmember on opposite sides of said glazed panel to retain the latch inposition, a latching bar slidably mounted in said longitudinal guidewayclosely adjacent said supporting channel member, one end portion of saidlatching bar being oifset and adapted to engage the adjacent edgeportion of the upright stile interposed between said window panels, anda projection carried by the opposite end portion of said latching barfor limiting the longitudinal movement thereof.

GEORGE E. McKEEN.

